MORGANTOWN — J.J. Wetherholt spent the last three years helping the WVU baseball team build toward making history.
The Mountaineers shortstop made his own Sunday night without a bat or a glove in his hand and a black cowboy hat on his head.
The St. Louis Cardinals took Wetherholt with the No. 7 overall selection in the Major League Baseball draft, making him the first WVU player to ever be selected in the top 10.
“It’s an unbelievable experience. I’m blessed to be here,” said Wetherholt, who attended the draft with his family in Ft. Worth, Texas. “I’m just super excited.”
The draft, itself, made history, too. It was the first time the first eight selections were all college players.
The signing bonus tied to the No. 7 pick is worth $6,823,700, although the Cardinals may try to sign Wetherholt for less than that to save money for their future picks. Most teams attempt to do that with first-round selections.
“They’re getting a baller,” Wetherholt told ESPN. “I can do it all. I can do a little bit of everything. I’m a learner, so I’m super excited to see what the Cardinals can do to make me a better player. I’m just excited to be a Cardinal.”
Wetherholt came back from a hamstring injury this season — it cost him 24 games of his junior year — to lead WVU to its first-ever appearance in a super regional.
He batted .331 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs in just 36 games.
It was Wetherholt’s sophomore season that put him on the road to becoming a highly-drafted prospect. He led the nation in hitting that season with a .449 batting average, while also hitting 16 home runs and driving in 60.
During his college career, Wetherholt played at third base, second base and shortstop.
He was named the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2023, and then competed for Team U.S.A last summer in an exhibition tour in games against Chinese Taipei and Japan.
“The takeaway here is he’s gotten better at shortstop,” ESPN draft analyst Kyle Peterson said. “I think everyone thought he was at second or third base entering this season.
“He got a little better. He shows a 55 (out of 70) arm. The real thing for me is he’s 5-foot-10, he’s not the most physical guy. He doesn’t have a 70-grade tool, but he’s literally above average at every single thing on the baseball field, which is a very important place to start. I think he’s almost assured to be a big leaguer.”
For his career, Wetherholt batted .370 with 29 home runs and 129 RBIs. he also walked 82 times, while striking out 82 times over 145 career college games.
“He might not be the most scary hitter in the draft, but for my money, it’s the prettiest swing,” ESPN draft analyst Kiley McDaniel said. “This dude’s bat-to-ball move is as pretty there is in this draft.
“He got off to a slow start this year, because of the hamstring injury, but still flashed big power.”
Wetherholt becomes the fourth WVU player to be selected in the first round in the school’s history. Alek Manoah was taken 11th overall by Toronto in 2019, while pitcher Chris Enochs was also taken 11th overall by Oakland in 1997. Joe Honce was taken 12th overall by Minnesota in 1973.
“Last year, he stole 36 bases, which is a big-time run tool,” McDaniel said. “The concern about the hamstring is there, because it happened last summer and again this year. But when he is right, he can run as well as anyone in this draft.
“I think the Cardinals are banking on getting the hitter from last year with the potential to play shortstop this year.”
Wetherholt has until 5 p.m. on Aug. 1 to sign a contract with St. Louis, or else the Cardinals would lose their rights to him, potentially giving him the right to go back to WVU and be drafted again in 2025.
While that has happened to first-round selections — three first-round picks over the last eight years ended up not signing — it is extremely rare.
It’s unclear where the Cardinals will send Wetherholt to begin his pro career. The Cardinals Class A team is the Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League. St. Louis’ High-A team is the Peoria (Ill.) Chiefs, which plays in the Midwest League.
